JP5762129B2 - Half-mating prevention connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply connector used for charging an electric vehicle, for example, and the fitting operation of both the power supply side and power reception side connectors is performed with a low insertion force, and charging does not start unless both the connectors are completely engaged. Thus, the present invention relates to a half-fitting prevention connector that prevents arc discharge due to separation of terminals when charging in a half-fitted state.

  A low insertion force power supply side connector having a lever, which is a power supply side connector fitted to a power reception side connector fixed to an automobile body or the like, is well known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

<Configuration of power supply connector described in Patent Document 1>
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a power supply connector described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG.
In FIG. 6, the power supply side connector 100 is slidably mounted on the cylindrical case 100C and the front half of the cylindrical case 100C, and the rear end is pressed against the handle 100H to resist the repulsive force of the coil spring 100S. Connector body 100M that accommodates a plurality of terminals therein, a handle 100H that is pivotally supported by a pin 100P2 that is inserted into a laterally long hole in the rear half of the cylindrical case 100C, and an intermediate portion within the cylindrical case 100C The lever body 100M is pivotally mounted by the lever shaft 100P1, and the connector body 100M is fitted to the mating connector with the lever 100L pivotally supported by a pin 100P2 whose tip is inserted into the laterally long hole of the cylindrical case 100C together with the shaft hole of the handle 100H. A release lever 101 that prevents the lever 100L from rotating in a state, and holds the lever 100L toward the handle 100H. Free and lever shaft 100P1 about the action side tip of the lever 100L rotates counterclockwise connector body 100M is advanced mating connector direction, in which is fitted with a mating connector.
When the fitting is completed, the locking protrusion 101K formed at the tip of the release lever 101 is formed at the locking step formed at the tip of the operating portion of the lever 100L as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. The lever 100L is locked by the release lever 101 by engaging with the portion 100K.

JP-A-7-85926

<Problem of power supply connector described in Patent Document 1>
When the power feeding connector 100 is fitted, normally, the lever 100L is gripped so that the fitting can be performed. However, when the lever 100L is gripped, both connectors are engaged during the mating operation with the mating connector 200. Interference friction may occur between the housings. For example, the interference friction between the connector housing 100C1 and the mating connector housing 200C1 shown in a circle A in FIG. 6, the interference friction between the connector housing 100C2 and the mating connector housing 200C2 shown in a circle B, and the like. When such interference friction occurs, the lever 100L stops in a state where the lever 100L is not fully gripped. Then, the locking protrusion 101K at the tip of the release lever 101 shown in the enlarged view of FIG. The engagement protrusion 101K at the tip of the release lever 101 shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 6 (2) does not engage with the engagement step portion 100K, but half-engages with the engagement step portion 100K of the lever 100L. A condition occurs. In such a half-engaged state, the power terminal 100T of the connector and the power terminal 200T of the mating connector are connected to each other (see circle C in FIG. 6), but the lever 100L stops in the half-engaged state. Therefore, the lever 100L is not locked. For this reason, when some impact is applied, the engagement is released from the half-engaged state between the locking projection 101K at the tip of the release lever 101 and the locking step 100K of the lever 100L, and the original position is restored. It can happen. Then, since the terminals are disconnected from the state in which the power terminal 100T of the connector and the power terminal 200T of the mating connector are connected to each other (that is, the charging state), the terminals of the power terminal 100T and the mating power terminal 200T are fitted. There was a risk that arc discharge would occur between the terminals when they were disconnected, and the terminals could be damaged.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. Even when interference friction occurs between the connector housings during the fitting operation with the mating connector without fully grasping the lever, the lever is half-fitted. The purpose is to prevent charging current from flowing in the combined state and to prevent arc discharge between the terminals.

In order to achieve the above object, the inventions (1) to (3) relate to a half-fitting prevention connector and are characterized by the following.
(1) A cylindrical case, a connector body that is slidably mounted in the front half of the cylindrical case and incorporates a power terminal and a signal terminal, and is rotatably attached to the rear half of the cylindrical case A lever, and a release lever having an engagement piece that engages with a locking piece that grips the lever and prevents the connector or the lever from returning when the connector body is engaged with the mating connector. In the half-fitting prevention connector, the release lever is provided with a lock hole, a plunger is provided, and an electromagnetic coil is provided in the cylindrical case so that the plunger faces the lock hole, and charging is performed by pressing the plunger. A micro switch is provided in the cylindrical case, and the electromagnetic coil is excited by the connection between the signal terminals, and the connector body and the mating connector When the plunger enters the lock hole and locks the release lever, the tip of the plunger that protrudes from the lock hole can turn on the micro switch. At the same time, the release lever can be swung so that the plunger cannot enter the lock hole in the half-fitted state.
(2) When the electromagnetic coil is fully charged, excitation is released and the release lever can be operated.
(3) A lock arm is branched from the release lever, and the lock hole is formed in the lock arm.

As described above, according to the invention of the above (1), even if the electromagnetic coil is excited in a half-fitted state where interference friction occurs between the two connector housings and the lever cannot be gripped, the plunger enters the lock hole. Since the microswitch does not operate because it cannot be performed, and therefore charging is not started, when the lever returns from the half-fitted state and the terminal is separated (since no charging current originally flows), arc discharge flies between the terminals. Such a thing does not happen.
According to the invention of (2), the electromagnetic coil for preventing malfunction can be used as means for preventing half-fitting.
According to the invention of (3) above, the degree of freedom in the layout of the electromagnetic coil is improved by selecting the lock arm in any shape and length.

1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a half-fitting prevention connector according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front view of a half-fitting prevention connector before fitting, and FIG. FIG. 1C is a front view of the vicinity of the microswitch in FIG. 1B. FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along a right-angled plane that crosses the axial direction of the rear half of the cylindrical case. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a state before the microswitch according to the present invention operates, and FIG. 3B is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the vicinity of the microswitch of FIG. FIG. 4A is a perspective view when the microswitch according to the present invention is operated in a completely fitted state, and FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional plan view in the vicinity of the microswitch of FIG. 5A is a perspective view when the microswitch according to the present invention is operated in a half-fitted state, and FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the vicinity of the microswitch in FIG. 5A. 6 is a front view showing the connector with a handle described in the cited document 1. FIG.

<Semi-fitting prevention connector according to the present invention>
Next, the half-fitting prevention connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a half-fitting prevention connector according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front view of a half-fitting prevention connector before fitting, and FIG. FIG. 1C is a front view of the vicinity of the microswitch in FIG. 1B. FIG. In FIG. 1, a half-fitting prevention connector 10 is a power-feeding side connector that is fitted to a power receiving side connector of a battery mounted on an automobile, and includes a cylindrical case 10C, a connector body 10M, a lever 10L, a handle 10H, and a release lever 11. Be prepared. Hereinafter, the cylindrical case 10C, the connector main body 10M, the lever 10L, the handle 10H, and the release lever 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

<Cylindrical case 10C>
The cylindrical case 10C has a connector body 10M (FIG. 1 (A)) slidably mounted in the front half of the cylindrical case 10C, and a handle 10H with a pin 10P2 (FIG. 1 (B)) inserted into a laterally long hole in the rear half. Further, an intermediate portion of the lever 10L is pivotally attached by a lever shaft 10P1 (FIG. 1B).

<Connector body 10M>
The connector main body 10M accommodates a plurality of power terminals 10T1 (FIG. 1B) and a plurality of communication terminals 10T2 (FIG. 1B) inside, and is slidably mounted on the front half of the cylindrical case 10C. Has been. The connector body 10M is always urged rearward (counter-fitting direction) by the repulsive force of the coil spring 10S, but the rear end of the connector body 10M is pressed against the repulsive force of the coil spring 10S by the handle 10H. To advance in the fitting direction in the cylindrical case 10C.

<Lever 10L>
The intermediate portion of the lever 10L is pivotally attached to the rear half of the cylindrical case 10C by a lever shaft 10P1, and the tip of the lever 10L is a bifurcated lever support piece 10LR, 10LL (see FIG. 2). 10LR and 10LL are pivotally supported by a pin 10P2 (FIG. 1B) inserted into a shaft hole provided in the side wall of the handle 10H and a horizontally long hole provided in the inner wall of the cylindrical case 10C (detailed in FIG. 2). ).

<Handle 10H>
The handle 10H is a tubular long body with a U-shape, and its tip has a hook shape (see FIG. 2). A plurality of large and small electric cables W are inserted into the hook shape to Each end of the cable W is connected to a power terminal 10T1 and a communication terminal 10T2 in the connector body 10M.
The handle 10H is pivotally supported on the cylindrical case 10C together with the tip of the lever 10L by a pin 10P2 that is inserted into the horizontally long hole in the rear half of the cylindrical case 10C. A locking piece 10X (FIG. 1C) made of a triangular member is provided on the side surface of the handle 10H. The locking piece 10X is in a state in which the connectors are completely fitted with each other, and the release lever 11 It engages with a locking claw XK (FIG. 1C) formed at the tip of the action arm 11X (FIG. 1B) of FIG. 1B.
Therefore, when the lever 10L is gripped to the handle 10H side, the tip of the lever 10L rotates counterclockwise in the figure around the lever shaft 10P1, the handle 10H moves forward, and the handle 10H that moves forward moves the rear of the connector body 10M. By pressing the end, the connector main body 10M moves forward in the cylindrical case 10C against the repulsive force of the coil spring 10S, and comes into engagement with the mating connector (power receiving connector).

<Release lever 11>
The release lever 11 is for preventing the return of the lever 10 </ b> L after the connector body 10 </ b> M is engaged with the mating connector by grasping the lever 10 </ b> L.
As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the release lever 11 includes a working arm 11X extending in the axial direction of the connector main body 10M, an operation arm 11Y projecting to the rear outside of the cylindrical case 10C, and a lock extending right below from the middle of both arms. The arm 11Z is formed in a substantially T shape, and an intermediate portion of these arms is rotatably held by a pin 10P3 interposed in the cylindrical case 10C above the handle 10H.
Next, the action arm 11X, the operation arm 11Y, and the lock arm 11Z will be described.

<< Working arm 11X >>
A downward locking claw XK is formed at the tip of the action arm 11X, and the action arm 11X is always urged downward in the figure by a coil spring provided on the inner wall of the cylindrical case 10C. As the handle 10H advances, the locking piece 10X provided on the side surface of the handle 10H also moves forward, and finally the locking piece 10X and the locking claw XK of the action arm 11X are in a state where the connectors are completely fitted. After that, the release lever 11 prevents the handle 10H from retreating. To retract the handle 10H, the operation arm 11Y described below is pushed down.
<< Operation arm 11Y >>
The operation arm 11Y protrudes from the rear of the cylindrical case 10C, and when the operation arm 11Y is pushed down, the action arm 11X of the release lever 11 turns clockwise to be released from the lock with the handle 10H.
<< Lock arm 11Z >>
The lock arm 11Z has a lock hole 11H (FIG. 1C) at the lower end.
In the fully fitted state, the lock hole 11H of the lock arm 11Z is located on the path of the plunger 13P (see FIG. 2) of the electromagnetic coil 13, but in the half-fitted state, the lock arm 11Z is slightly inclined from the normal position. The lock hole 11H is displaced from the path of the plunger 13P of the electromagnetic coil 13 (see FIG. 2).
In addition, excitation of the electromagnetic coil 13 is started when it is determined by the system on the power feeding side that the signal terminals of the power feeding side connector and the power receiving side connector are connected to each other.
Thus, in the fully fitted state, the plunger 13P jumps out of the electromagnetic coil 13 by the excitation of the electromagnetic coil 13 and enters the lock hole 11H, thereby locking the rotation of the lock arm 11Z. Therefore, even if the operation arm 11Y of the release lever 11 is accidentally pushed down during power feeding to release the lock, the action arm 11X cannot move because the lock arm 11Z is locked by the plunger 13P of the electromagnetic coil 13. Therefore, since the handle 10H and the lever 10L are also maintained in the locked state, separation during power feeding is reliably prevented.
When the electromagnetic coil 13 is demagnetized simultaneously with the end of charging, the plunger 13P is momentarily retracted by the elastic force of the coil spring 13F, and the lock arm 11Z is unlocked.
In the half-fitted state, even if the plunger 13P jumps out of the electromagnetic coil 13 due to the excitation of the electromagnetic coil 13, it cannot enter the lock hole 11H and the lock arm 11Z is not locked.
Note that the lock hole 11H may be provided in any part of the release lever 11 without providing the lock arm 11Z. However, when the lock arm 11Z is provided in this way, the lock arm 11Z can be formed in any shape. By selecting the length, the degree of freedom of the layout of the electromagnetic coil 13 is improved.

<Features of the present invention: Installation of a micro switch at the tip of the plunger>
According to the present invention, a micro switch 14 (see FIG. 2) is installed at the tip of the plunger 13P. The mounting structure and function of the microswitch 14 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a right-angle plane crossing the axial direction of the rear half of the cylindrical case 10C. First, the electromagnetic coil 13 on which the microswitch 14 is installed will be described with reference to FIG.

<Mounting position and function of electromagnetic coil 13>
In FIG. 2, in this cylindrical case 10C, a lever support piece 10LR, 10LL formed by bifurcating at the tip of the lever 10L has a shaft hole 10N provided on the side wall of the handle 10H and the cylindrical case. It is pivotally supported by a pin 10P2 that is inserted into a horizontally long hole 10V of a boss 10B1 projecting from an inner wall of 10C.
《Primary lock》
The handle 10H is moved forward by a gripping operation of the lever 10L, and the handle 10H has a bowl shape in a longitudinal section at this portion, and accommodates a number of electric wires W, W and passes them to the connector body 10M. As the handle 10H advances, the connector main body 10M is also pushed forward, and finally fits with the power receiving connector 20, and the release lever 11 locks the handle 10H, and thus locks the lever 10L (primary lock).
《Secondary lock》
The lock arm 11Z of the release lever 11 extends downward and has a lock hole 11H at the lower end thereof, and an electromagnetic coil 13 is provided in the cylindrical case 10C so as to face the lock hole 11H. When 13 is excited, the plunger 13P extends from the electromagnetic coil 13 and is inserted into the lock hole 11H to lock the lock arm 11Z (secondary lock). Further, by releasing the excitation of the electromagnetic coil 13 when charging is completed, the release lever 11 can be operated, and the electromagnetic coil 13 for preventing malfunction can be used as a means for preventing half-fitting. Become.
Even if the electromagnetic coil 13 is excited in the half-fitted state, the lock hole 11H of the lock arm 11Z is not positioned on the operation line of the plunger 13P, so the plunger 13P extends and cannot be inserted into the lock hole 11H. Not locked.

<Mounting structure of micro switch 14 employed by the present invention>
Then, according to the present invention, the micro switch 14 is attached to the cylindrical case 10C so as to be positioned at the tip of the plunger 13P. The tip of the plunger 13P presses the lever 14L of the micro switch 14 in a state where the electromagnetic coil 13 is excited and the plunger 13P protrudes from the lock hole 11H of the lock arm 11Z. When the lever 14L is pressed, the movable contact 14C is pressed, the micro switch 14 is turned on, and charging starts.
Therefore, when the system on the power supply side determines that the connection is made by connecting the signal terminals of the power supply side connector and the power reception side connector, the electromagnetic coil 13 is excited and the plunger 13P jumps out of the lock hole 11H of the lock arm 11Z, and the microswitch 14 lever 14L is pressed, the movable contact 14C is pressed, the micro switch 14 is turned on, and charging is thereby started.

<Operation of Microswitch 14 Adopted by the Present Invention>
Next, the operation of the microswitch 14 employed by the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A is a perspective view of the state before the microswitch is operated, FIG. 3B is a partial sectional plan view of the vicinity of the microswitch of FIG. 3A, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the vicinity of the microswitch in FIG. 4A. FIG.

<When the power supply connector is fully mated>
When the lever 10L is further grasped and the connectors are completely fitted (main fitting), the lock hole 11H of the lock arm 11Z is on the operation line of the plunger 13P of the electromagnetic coil 13 as shown in FIGS. Therefore, when the electromagnetic coil 13 is excited by connecting the signal terminals, the plunger 13P enters the lock hole 11H of the lock arm 11Z and jumps out of the lock hole 11H to press the lever 14L of the micro switch 14. When the movable contact 14C is pushed, the micro switch 14 is turned on, and charging is started.
In the past, when the power supply system determined that the signal terminals between the connectors were connected to each other, the electromagnetic coil was excited and charging started. As described, since charging is started in a half-fitted state where the lever is not grasped, there is a disadvantage that arc discharge occurs due to subsequent separation of the power terminals.
However, according to the present invention, charging is not yet started even when the system on the power supply side determines that the fitting has been performed by connecting the signal terminals between the connectors and the electromagnetic coil 13 is excited. Charging starts when the plunger 13 </ b> P presses the lever 14 </ b> L of the microswitch 14 by excitation of the electromagnetic coil 13. The fact that the plunger 13P has pressed the lever 14L of the micro switch 14 is because the connectors are in a completely fitted state and the lock arm 11Z is locked (in the half-fitted state of the connectors, the lock hole of the lock arm 11Z). Since 11H is displaced from the path of the plunger 13P, the lock arm 11Z is not locked.) Since the lock arm 11Z is locked, the terminals are not separated from each other, and therefore arc discharge cannot occur.

<When the power supply connector is half-fitted>
5A is a perspective view when the microswitch according to the present invention is operated in a half-fitted state, and FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the vicinity of the microswitch in FIG. 5A. When the lever 10L is still insufficient, the power feeding connector is in a half-fitted state, and as shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B), the lock arm 11Z is in the fully-fitted position (FIG. 5 ( A) and (B) (refer to 11Z), and therefore the lock hole 11H is not on the operation line of the plunger 13P of the electromagnetic coil 13, so that even if the electromagnetic coil 13 is excited and the plunger 13P operates, the lock 13H is locked. The arm 11Z hits the periphery of the lock hole 11H and cannot enter the lock hole 11H. Accordingly, the lever 14L of the micro switch 14 does not contact the movable contact 14C, the charging circuit remains off, and charging is not started.
Therefore, even if some impact is applied and the fitting is released, no arc discharge can occur between the terminals because the battery is not originally charged.

<Summary>
As described above, according to the present invention, when the electromagnetic coil 13 is excited and the plunger 13 is operated, the plunger 13 enters the lock hole 11H and presses the lever 14L of the micro switch 14 in the fully fitted state. Start charging. Since the lock arm 11Z is locked during charging, the power terminals are not separated from each other even when an impact is applied. Therefore, arc discharge does not occur. Further, in the half-fitted state, since the plunger 13 cannot enter the lock hole 11H, the plunger 13P cannot press the lever 14L of the micro switch 14, so the micro switch 14 remains off and charging does not start.
Therefore, even if an impact is applied and the half-fitted power terminals are separated from each other, the charging current does not flow originally, so that no arc discharge occurs.
As described above, according to the present invention, arc discharge does not occur between the terminals in both the complete fitting and the half fitting, and there is no possibility that the terminals are damaged.
Further, when the charging is completed, the release lever can be operated by releasing the excitation of the electromagnetic coil, and the electromagnetic coil for preventing malfunction can be used as a means for preventing half-fitting.
Moreover, the freedom degree of the layout of an electromagnetic coil improves by branching from a release lever, providing a lock arm, and selecting the lock arm as arbitrary shape and length.

10: Half-fitting prevention connector 10B1, 10B2: Boss 10C: Cylindrical case 10H: Handle 10L: Lever 10LR, 10LL: Lever support piece 10M: Connector body 10N: Shaft hole 10P1: Lever shaft 10P2: Pin 10S: Coil spring 10T1 : Power terminal 10T2: Communication terminal 10V: Horizontal long hole 10X: Locking piece 11: Release lever 11H: Lock hole 11X: Action arm 11Y: Operation arm 11Z: Lock arm 13: Electromagnetic coil 13F: Coil spring 13P: Plunger 14: Micro Switch 14C: Moving contact 14L: Lever W: Electric cable

Claims (3)

A cylindrical case, a connector body that is slidably mounted in the front half of the cylindrical case and incorporates a power terminal and a signal terminal, and a lever that is rotatably attached to the rear half of the cylindrical case; A half-fitting comprising a release lever having an engaging piece that engages with a locking piece that grips the lever and prevents the connector or the lever from returning when the connector body is engaged with a mating connector. In joint prevention connector,
The release lever is provided with a lock hole, a plunger is provided, an electromagnetic coil is provided in the cylindrical case so that the plunger faces the lock hole, and a micro switch that starts charging by a pressing operation of the plunger is provided in the cylinder. In the case,
The electromagnetic coil is excited by the connection between the signal terminals,
When the connector body and the mating connector are completely fitted, the plunger enters the lock hole, locks the release lever, and at the same time, the tip of the plunger that protrudes from the lock hole turns on the micro switch. A half-fitting prevention connector, wherein the release lever is swingable so that the plunger cannot enter the lock hole in a half-fitted state.   2. The half-fitting prevention connector according to claim 1, wherein when the charging of the electromagnetic coil is completed, excitation is released and the release lever can be operated.   The half-fitting prevention connector according to claim 1, wherein a lock arm is branched from the release lever, and the lock hole is formed in the lock arm.

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